North American Sabre Dog Part Three Ang & Foreign F-86DKL

85 Pages·2003·52.42 MB·English

by  Duncan Curtis

F-86D CUTAWAY
INTRODUCTION: Carter, Fernando Daleccio, Oluf
Eriksen, Don 'Goody' Goodrich,
FRONT COVER: Top, 156th FIS F-86L-
Air Force Legends Number 211 is Tom Hail, Frederick Hitchcock,
60 53-919 in September 1960. The air
the third volume in the North Pete Hutting, John Irwin, Marty
craft served with the squadron trom
American F-86D/K/L Sabre Dog Isham, Maj E. B. J0rgensen,
April 1959 to March 1961. Pilot's and
series and covers Air National Guard Michael P. Jungers, Craig Kaston, crew chief's names were painted
and foreign usage of the F-86D/KiLs. Dean Krueger, John Lewis, Otto against a map ot North Carolina. Ben
Volume two, Air Force Legends Loorents, David R. McLaren, Dave Knowles) Bottom, treshly painted
Number 207, covered United States Menard, Chuck Metz, National Venezuelan F-86K in flight. (Mick Roth)
Air Force F-86D/L operators. Volume Archives, Stephane Nicolaou, Bud
BACK COVER: Left side top-to-bot
one chronicaled the aircraft's design, Norris, Masato Ota, Bill Piper,
tom; 120th FIS F-86L 53-889 at
structures and testing. Jared Potvin, Ron Regan, Jim
Peterson AFB in 1960. (H. W. Rued via
Roquemore, Fred Roos, Dick
Marty Isham) Pennsylvania ANG F-86L-
Duncan Curtis has taken on the Schneider, Larry Smalley, Bob
60 53-4023. (via Burger) Highly pol
task of documenting the Air Force's Stollof. Elliott P. Smith, Willaim ished Royal Danish Air Force F-86D
operational history of the F-86D/L in Swisher, Norm Taylor, Joe with Sidewinder missile rails was 51-
volume two and the Air National Watkins, Nick Williams and Robert 5945. (Hans Kotoed via Jack Friell)
Guard and foreign histories in volume Zbornak. French Air Force F-86K 55-4827 ot
three. He previously authored Naval EC.2113 with short-span wings, circa
1958. (Guido Buhlmann) Final color
Fighters Number 58, North American Finally, to my brother Howard,
scheme tor Italian F-86Ks was worn by
QF-86 Sabre Drones, and F-86 Sabre whose help through the years has
23° Gruppo machines when they trans
from Crowood Press. Mr. Curtis spe been immeasurable.
terred to 5° Stormo in 1973. (via Mick
cializes in the North American Sabre
Roth) 12 squadron Royal Thai Air
and maintains an F-86 website at f- © 2003 by Steve Ginter Force F-86L-60 53-866. (via Burger)
86.tripod.com ISBN 0-942612-90-6 Right side top-to-bottom; Calitornia
Steve Ginter, 1754 Warfield Cir., Simi ANG F-86L 53-558 trom the 194th FIS.
Author's Acknowledgements Valiey, California, 93063 (via Kaston) Philippine Air Force F-86D
51-8406. (Brian Austria-Tomkins via
The assistance of the following is All rights reserved. No part of this Bert Anido) Norwegian Air Force F-86K
assigned to 339 Skv. (via Larry Davis)
greatly appreciated: publication may be repraduced,
Vugoslavian Air Force F-86D on dis
stored in a retrieval system, or trans
play after retirement. (Archives
Charlie Arnet, Sam Ballard, Ken mitted in any form by any means elec
Nicolaou) Italian Air Force F-86K 55-
Benner, Hans Berfelo, Scott tranic, mechanical, or otherwise with 4815 trom 23° Gruppo. (Jack Friell)
Bloome, Peter Bowers, Gerald J. out the written permission of the pub Luftwaffe F-86K trom Jagdgeschwader
Buchko, Jerome P. Burton, John J. lisher. 74. (Ginter collection)
ThiE F-86D/KIL IN ANG AND FOREIGN SERVICE BV DUNCAN CURTIS
Above, 111th FIS F-86D 52-3802 trom
Ellington AFB, Houston, TX, in flight in
February 1958. The aircratt's belly is
painted aircraft gray tor corrosion con
trol. (Texas ANG 111th FIS/147th FW
via Mitchell Hail)
1961, having received F-86Ls in the
previous month. Flying only F-860s,
th
the 198 FIS Puerto Rico ANG re
equipped with the type in February
1959 and flew these until November
th
1960. Conversely, the 199 FIS
F-86D/L DELIVERIES TO 860s, along with the 125th and the Hawaii ANG operated only F-86Ls,
THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD 185th FIS Oklahoma ANG. Ten ANG and gained aircraft specially convert
squadrons had received F-860s by ed for the squadron from Oecember
As Convair F-102A, and later F- May 1958, but by this time F-86Ls 1957. Like their Air Force counter
106A, interceptors became available had also become available, and a parts, the ANG F-86Ls were ultimate
to the Air Oefense Command, USAF number of other Guard squadrons Iy replaced by the F-102A Oelta
F-860s began to filter down to the Air converted straight onto this aircraft Oagger, and in the 1960/61 period,
National Guard (ANG) units, but it without receiving any O-models. many squadrons finally lost their
was not until 1957 that sufficient sur Sabres for good. By early 1962, only
plus aircraft were available to begin The first ANG F-86L unit was the six F-86L units remained in ANG ser
the process. First unit to receive F- 108th FIS Illinois ANG, based at vice: the 124th FIS lowa ANG, the
860s was the 173rd FIS Nebraska O'Hare International Airport. The 173rd FIS Nebraska ANG, the 181st
ANG, based at Lincoln Municipal squadron gained its first aircraft in FIS Texas ANG, the 190th FIS Idaho
Airport. The squadron received F- Oecember 1957, having previously ANG, the 194th FIS California ANG
860s in May 1957, converting fram F- flown the F-84F. National Guard F- and the 196th FIS California ANG.
80C Shooting Stars. Also during 860s were gradually phased out in The 196th became the last unit to
1957, the 111th and the 181st FIS 1960, the 196th FIS California ANG operate the type, converting to F-
Texas ANG squadrons received F- flying on with the "Oog" until March 102s in the summer of 1965.
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AIR NATIONAL GUARD (ANG) F-86D/L UNITS
197TH FIGHTER
INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON
ARIZONA ANG
The 197th FIS began converting
from F-86As in March 1958 at
Skyharbor Airport, Phoenix. The unit
received F-86Ls mainly from the
th
329 FIS at George AFB when the
latter converted to the F-102A. The F-
86Ls in turn began to be replaced by
F-104A Starfighters in April 1960. The
last Sabres left Phoenix in July of that
year, inevitably bound for Davis
Monthan.
At top, first colors worn by 197th FIS F-86Ls were similar to the earlier F-86A scheme. "Copperhead" snake on the fuselage
side was yellow outlined by red. 53-4034 was seen at the Luke AFB Armed Forces Day display in May 1958 shortly after receiv
ing its first F-86L. (Brian Baker) Above, 53-828 bellied into Phoenix in 1960 and was subsequently scrapped. The "Copperhead"
design was removed from the fuselage side when the high-viz scheme was applied. Instead, a stylized snake's head was
placed on the tail fin, above which was painted "Copperheads" in yellow. (Brian Baker)
194TH FIGHTER December 1957. Further deliveries four out to Davis-Monthan for stor
th
INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON came from the 78 FIW at Hamilton age; they were replaced by F-102A
CALIFORNIA ANG AFB in early 1958, the last F-86As Delta Daggers.
leaving in February 1958.
Based at Fresno, CA, the 194th However, when the last four air
FIS flew F-86A Sabres until these Toward the end of 1964, remain craft came to be flown out of Fresno
began to be replaced with F-86Ls in ing F-86Ls were ferried in groups of in December 1964, aircraft 53-642
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lost oil pressure on its number 1 At top, 52-4278 at NAS Moffett on 21 May 1960. An F-86L-50 from the 194th FIS at
engine bearing and never made it. Fresno was unusual in having nose art. "Easy Valley Girl" was assigned to Capt.
One week later 53-642 was placed on R. G. Hollring. (William Swisher) Above, 194th F-86L-60 53-4050 on 3 October 1962
had da-glo orange nose and rear fuselage stripes. 194th aircraft originally had a
display at Fresno, where it remains to
yellow chevron outlined in blue on the tail. Fin tip is red. (W. Swisher) Bottom,
this day.
194th F-86L-45 52-4197 at NAS Oakland on 3 October 1962. (William Swisher)
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196TH FIGHTER
INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON
CALIFORNIA ANG
Based at Ontario, CA, the 196th
FIS had flown the F-86A since March
1954. Conversion to the F-860 began
in late September 1958 (although a
small number of F-860s, including
52-3712, 52-3785 and 52-3876, had
been assigned the previous May) and
these aircraft were a mixture of F-
860-36 and -41 Sabres. Oelivery
was completed in October, and the At top, 194th F-86L-55 53-0642 at Fresno on 21 January 1965 after retirement,
last F-86As left the squadron late in which became one of the Fresno's display aircraft. The fin tip and wing tip were
1958. This initial delivery of F-860s to dark blue and all the da-glo finish had been removed. (Swisher) Above, unmarked
the 196th FIS came entirely from 196th F-86L-60 53-0897 at Ontario Airport on 25 June 1962. (0. Kasulka via Norm
overhaul at McClellan AFB. Taylor) Below, two Ontario-based 196th FIS Sabre Oogs in flight wearing da-glo
markings. (via Don Spering, Aircraft in Review)
In June 1959, a large number of
th
F-860-41 s were passed to the 196
FIS from the 111 th FIS at Ellington,
TX, and this allowed the former to get
rid of all the F-860-36s and some of
the 0-41 s concurrently. Thus, the
squadron was able to briefly stan
dardize on the F-860-41 and the
logistics support of these aircraft was
considerably simplified.
Re-equipment with the F-86L was
a far smoother affair - all aircraft were
th
assigned to 196 FIS in February
th
1961 from the 128 FIS at Oobbins
AFB. In the first week of March 1961,
the last F-860s were ferried out to
Oavis-Monthan for storage. The F-
86Ls were finally replaced by F- '
102As in early 1965. The 196th FIS
was the last ANG F-860/L squadron.
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Above, 196th FIS California ANG F-
86L-60 53-897 in fresh (unfaded) da-glo
markings at Ontario in 1962. The fin tip
was yellow and the anti-glare panel
black. The radome was faded to tan.
(Ron Picciani via Isham) At right, late
196th FIS markings consisted of the
ANG logo on the tail with CALIFORNIA
written above it. Silver lacquer finish
and aluminized lacquer undersides
were typical of the Sabre Oog's final
years. 52-10170 was donated to the
town of Montclair. (William Swisher)
120TH FIGHTER SQUADRON
COLORADO ANG
th Above, F-860s flown by the 120th FIS
In January 1960, the 120 FIS
wore nondescript markings only
The 120th FIS was based at began to convert to the F-86L, and
relieved by COLO ANG script. 52-3604
Denver (Iater Buckley ANG Base), the old D models were retired to
was flown by the unit from May 1958
and flew F-86Es (operated by the Davis-Monthan by the end of March.
through February 1960 when it was
accomplished Minute Men aerobatic The majority of the new F-86Ls came replaced by an F-86L. (W. Swisher)
rd
team) until the summer of 1958. fram the 133 FIS NH ANG, and
During May of 1958, the first F-86Ds were retained for just one year before
arrived from McClellan AFB to restore being replaced with F-100Cs in
the squadron to full strength; the aer January 1961. At that time the unit and the last Sabres left for Davis
obatic team was dropped at this time. became a Tactical Fighter Squadron Monthan in April of that year.
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COLORADO ANG
Above, when Colorado reeeived the F-
86L, it adopted the eolorful da-glo
sehe me augmented by fuselage and
tail flashes outlined in yellow. F-86L-55
53-726 had red flashes and drop tank
noses for red flight. (Fred Roos) At lett,
F-86L 53-889, seen at Peterson AFB,
had blue flashes and drop tank noses
for blue flight. (H. W. Rued via Marty
Isham)
159TH FIGHTER deliveries came from McClellan AFB. Above, 159th's simple but smart blue
INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON The 159th FIS operated twenty-five and white tail markings were earried
FLORIDA ANG Sabre Dogs - all F-86D-26 models. over to the unit's F-106s. Seen here on
25 January 1958, 51-5942 served with
the unit sinee August 1956. (Swisher)
Florida's 159th FIS based at These F-86Ds were retained until
Imeson Field flew F-80C Shooting mid-June of 1959 when they beg an to
Stars fram 1955. On 1 July of 1956, be ferried out for storage at Davis
the unit's first F-86D, 51-5915, arrived Monthan. Concurrently, on 19 June Squadron at Stewart AFB. The unit
from Fresno. By the end of August 1959, the first F-86Ls were assigned was fully re-equipped by the end of
nine F-86Ds had arrived from NAA's to the 159th FIS,' from the 329th July. The last three F-86Ds departed
Fresno line, though all subsequent Consolidated Logistics Maintenance for storage on 16 July, although 51-
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5908 was retained until 22 July and The replacement F-86Ls did not final Sabres had left by the end of
donated to the town of Gulfport, serve for long, however, and Convair March.
Missouri, for display. F-102As arrived in June 1960. The
128TH FIGHTER Above, Florida ANG F-86D-26s 51-
INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON 5861, 51-5901 and 51-5896 in flight
GEORGIA ANG over Florida in late 1959. (FL ANG via
Norm Taylor)
The 128th FIS squadron, at
Below, four 128th FIS Georgia ANG F-
Dobbins AFB, began converting from
86Ls (53-606, 51-098, 53-651, & 53-742)
the F-84F to the F-86L during July from Dobbins AFB in flight. The air
1958. On 1 April 1961, the unit craft wo re a yellow/orange triangle on
became a transport squadron the tail outlined in black, along with the
equipped with C-97Fs. The last squadron insignia. (Georgia ANG via
Sabres had been flown to the 196th Norm Taylor)
FIS at Ontario Airport, CA, in
February 1961.
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